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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Pain In The Calves
Question: I have chronic pain and stiffness of bilateral calves. Excruciating pain. Keeps me awake and only after massage for over 30 minutes with oil/voltaren emulgel/other pain creams there is slight relaxation and i can go to sleep at only about 5 in the morning and get rest for about 2-3 hours only. During the time of stiffness and pain, my right shoulder also aches. Vitamin E capsules were prescribed over 2 years ago but to no avail. Please advise course of action to be taken/tests to be taken, etc. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
It can be a muscle or nerve pain
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case. Pain in both calf on walking and rest occurs mostly due to either a nerve compression in spine or muscle weakness. Before I advised you any thing I would like to study your case in detail. Please let me know some detail about this case.
1.Are you a Diabetic or Thyroid patient?
2.Are you having any difficulty in walking also?
3.Do you take any medicines since long time like for BP or heart problems?
Please send me answers of these questions.I will try my best to help you.
thanks
It can be a muscle or nerve pain
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case. Pain in both calf on walking and rest occurs mostly due to either a nerve compression in spine or muscle weakness. Before I advised you any thing I would like to study your case in detail. Please let me know some detail about this case.
1.Are you a Diabetic or Thyroid patient?
2.Are you having any difficulty in walking also?
3.Do you take any medicines since long time like for BP or heart problems?
Please send me answers of these questions.I will try my best to help you.
thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
1. No, I am not a diabetic or thyroid patient.
2. There is slight difficulty walking only when the calves tighten up. Otherwise ambulation is good. Also, I get the calf pain and tightness mostly during the nighttime, but nowadays it is persisting during the day also.
3. I am healthy at baseline and do not take any medications whatsoever as I do not have heart problems or hypertension.
Kindly advise what tests to be taken to further delineate this problem and get rid of this problem and lead a normal healthy life.
Thank you.
2. There is slight difficulty walking only when the calves tighten up. Otherwise ambulation is good. Also, I get the calf pain and tightness mostly during the nighttime, but nowadays it is persisting during the day also.
3. I am healthy at baseline and do not take any medications whatsoever as I do not have heart problems or hypertension.
Kindly advise what tests to be taken to further delineate this problem and get rid of this problem and lead a normal healthy life.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
You may be having nerve compression in spine
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for replying.Calf pain during sleeping and walking is mostly due to nerve compression in spine. I would recommend you to get MRI of the spine to confirm this.
You should also get your serum B 12 estimation as it can also causes shoulder and calf pain.
If MRI shows that you are having nerve compression in the spine then you need to visit a neurosurgeon. You might need a small surgery if compression is more than fifty percent.If it is less than fifty percent than it can be deal with physiotherapy and medications. If MRI is normal and you have low serum B 12 than you will need vitamin supplementation.
I would recommend you to take tablet Pregabalin M in night time till you get your MRI. You will get good pain relief and sound sleep with this medicine. It will also take care of your shoulder pain.
I hope this answer will be useful for you. Let me know if there is any other follow up questions.
thanks
You may be having nerve compression in spine
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for replying.Calf pain during sleeping and walking is mostly due to nerve compression in spine. I would recommend you to get MRI of the spine to confirm this.
You should also get your serum B 12 estimation as it can also causes shoulder and calf pain.
If MRI shows that you are having nerve compression in the spine then you need to visit a neurosurgeon. You might need a small surgery if compression is more than fifty percent.If it is less than fifty percent than it can be deal with physiotherapy and medications. If MRI is normal and you have low serum B 12 than you will need vitamin supplementation.
I would recommend you to take tablet Pregabalin M in night time till you get your MRI. You will get good pain relief and sound sleep with this medicine. It will also take care of your shoulder pain.
I hope this answer will be useful for you. Let me know if there is any other follow up questions.
thanks
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :2002
Answered : 4486 Questions
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